Poetry is to be used a therapeutic tool to help support dementia patients at a care home during an event to celebrate the written verse.

Hartismere Place care home manager Matthew Calver said: 'Poetry is a powerful tool that can aid expression, communication and emotional resilience.

'It is also incredibly evocative and can bring back memories and emotions for older and young people alike.'

So the home in Castleton Way, Eye, Suffolk, will open its doors from 10.30am on Wednesday, March 21 – which has been named as World Poetry Day – for a day of word play and rhyming fun.

Residents at the home, run by Care UK, will be celebrating the day by reading a number of their favourite poems and rhymes aloud.

The care team has also invited year-four pupils from nearby St Peter and St Paul's Primary School, as well as the Suffolk Poetry Society, who will be sharing their favourite poems throughout the day.

Mr Calver added: 'World Poetry Day presents a great opportunity to share poems from past and present with residents and the wider community.

'It also fits in really well with our 'activity based care' approach here at Hartismere Place and has real therapeutic benefits for residents whether writing or reading, especially those living with dementia.

'We're looking forward to celebrating this event with a day full of rhyme, and happy times, with the people of Eye.'

Members of the public are also being encouraged to put pen to paper to create their own short verses and poems to enter into Care UK's poetry competition, which is taking place nationwide to mark World Poetry Day.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 20 and the winner will be announced on World Poetry Day.

For more information, call the home on 01379 888144.